Walks in Derbyshire by train

Parks, river and heritage trail.

Museum of Making

Darley Park

Time: 5h–10h30

6 lunch spots: Darley Park (1h–2h30 in) — Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys; plus the Joiners Arms (3h–6h in), or the Orangery Café (3h–6h in)

4 end-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Victoria Inn, or the Waterfall

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Similar walk: North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership.

Undulating countryside with several steep climbs.

Warnings: Several steep climbs.

Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).

Hilly countryside with several steep climbs. Alport Heights — a 314 m peak five miles away — is visible from the route on clear days. Route passes Holbrook.

Warnings: Several steep climbs.

Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).

Mixture of hilly and flat terrain with stiles along the way. Telling the story of the Pentrich Rising of 1817, exploring the local men who took part. Route passes through Fritchley and South Wingfield.

Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

Historic cotton mill, former railway track to High Peak Junction, canal towpath, deer park, bluebell woodland in Lea Wood, riverside fields and crossing of the River Derwent.

Walk details: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).

Similar walk: East Midlands Railway.

Quite possibly the best views in the whole of the Hope Valley. Ancient mixed woodland with rocky brook and footbridges, open moorland and gritstone edge. Detailed route map, photographs and route preview video available.

Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 2h–4h

Walk details: Let's Go Peak District (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Green valley, gritstone escarpment edge, open moorland plateaus, ancient hill fort, narrow wooded gorge with tumbling waterfalls and quiet river pastures.

Time: 5h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

The most magnificent views of the Hope Valley, the Edale Valley and even into the Derwent Valley. Hill trails over moorland and an old Roman road. Detailed route map, photographs and route preview video available.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Let's Go Peak District (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Some of the most spectacular views in the Peak District. Footpaths, farm trails, gritstone ridge, hill trails and country lanes. Detailed route map, photographs and route preview video available.

Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Warnings: Challenging in places.

Walk details: Let's Go Peak District (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Spectacular gritstone Stanage Edge. Gritstone edges including Stanage Edge and Burbage Edge, moorland, woodland and riverside paths. Gritstone edges carved by ice age glaciers; historically used for millstone quarrying. Pride and Prejudice film location.

Hilly: three fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 5h–9h30

Warnings: Hard terrain; rocky gritstone boulders to traverse.

Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).

Waterways — River Derwent, Derby & Sandiacre Canal and Erewash Canal.

Time: 5h30–11h

2 lunch spots: Canal Cottage Cafe (2h30–5h30 in), or the Navigation (3h–6h30 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: Peking House, or the Sawley Junction

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Excellent views. Unmade road, woodland paths and open parkland and field paths. No steep climbs. Follows the Midshires Way for a substantial section.

Warnings: Take care crossing the A6.

Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).